Pig Napkin Rings

Many years ago – ok, three years ago – I went out on my very first date with my husband. He took me to a fantastic upscale Southern restaurant, Jackson 20. The food is excellent, but what I love is that they have these really fun, really heavy-weight, pig napkin rings. About a year ago, I got it in my head that I would like some of my own, but didn’t buy any.

What did I find underneath the Christmas tree this year? Eight little perfect pigs – in the form of napkin rings! Expect to see these guys gracing future S&B posts. You can find some for your own home on eBay or antique websites.

Golf-Themed Birthday Bash

The OTT recently turned the big 3-oh. To celebrate even further (he turned 30 while we were visiting the Panama Canal in February – talk about a cool birthday), we put together a party centered around one of his favorite sports – golf.

The party dishes were named after golf terms, like “Barbecue Birdie Sandwiches” and “Dip and Chip Out,” there were golf-theme cupcakes (idea courtesy of the ever-fabulous Martha Stewart), and we even instated a golf/preppy dress code. Favor bags included tiny round brownies and golf-ball look-alike Mexican wedding cookies.

Invites:


Menu:

- Divots and Hummus (veggies and hummus)
- Dip and Chip Out (black bean dip with tortilla chips)
- Green and Rough (warm spinach artichoke dip)
- Barbecue Birdie Sandwiches (slow-cooked bbq chicken on potato rolls with monterey jack cheese)
- Bucket of Balls (powdered donut holes in a metal bucket)
- Golf Cupcakes
- 19th Hole Special Drink





Favors:

- Mexican Wedding Cookies and Bite-Size Round Brownies


Decoration:

- Golf balls in tall, round vases
- Table backdrop made with colored paper


Sources:

- baking cups, white candy pearls, favor bags – Layer Cake Shop
- paper for invitations, food cards, favor cards, cupcake flags, and wall decoration – Paper Source
- green sanding sugar – Williams Sonoma

Blue Cheese Breadsticks

Some months ago, I came across a recipe for blue cheese sticks – as in breadsticks (or straws), not cheese sticks, string cheese, etc.

It should be noted right away that I hate blue cheese. I think it smells terrible, tastes awful, and looks unsightly. That’s right, unsightly! Ryan, on the other hand, loves it.

My solution to this minor marital disagreement is to buy it anyway, and let Ryan use it on salads or whatever else he wants, as long as I don’t have to touch it or smell it.

When Ryan asked me to make these blue cheese breadsticks for a “guy’s night” at our place, I agreed with inner hesitation. I had been wanting to make them because they seemed like such a good idea, but I didn’t like the blue cheese part.

Well…when I got home on Friday night, there was literally one stick left. I don’t know if no one wanted to eat the last one, or if they were distracted by the dry roasted peanuts, but whatever. They were obviously a hit!

I did taste one, and I liked them. Yes. But you won’t find me putting blue cheese on my salad anytime soon.

Blue cheese and chives are probably the only ingredients you don't have on hand.

Just the butter and flour at this point.

Pulse the mixture until it comes together, looking coarse.

Make sure the water you add here is super cold, like ice water.

Your dough might look green. Don't worry, it will bake out!

The size of the sticks will vary if your dough isn't rolled into a perfect rectangle. This is completely ok and looks kind of fun when the sticks are on display!

Bake them until they're golden brown, even more than in this photo.

For the record, the blue ribbon was removed for "guy's night."

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 c unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/4  c  chilled butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1  c  crumbled blue cheese
  • 1/3  c  finely chopped chives
  • 1/4  tsp  salt
  • 1/4  tsp black pepper
  • 1  to 2 tablespoons cold water

Directions:

  1. Spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and butter in a food processor; pulse to blend. Add cheese, chives, salt, and pepper; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Drizzle water into flour mixture until dough forms a ball. Roll dough into a 16 x 8-inch rectangle. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°.
  3. Cut dough crosswise into thin slices. Place 1/2 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool bread sticks completely on wire racks.

A Manly Mixer

First of all, this isn’t Heather.  This is the husband.  And it seems I’ve hijacked Sugar & Butter…okay, I convinced her to let me guest blog.  Isn’t she great?

Right now I basically have two responsibilities in the kitchen:  slice things with my knife, “Gertrude” and help with dishes.  Three if you count Official Taste Tester.  But if we had one of THESE I would seriously lobby to add mixing to my list.

I saw this mixer walking through Crate & Barrel.  (That’s right, I’m man enough to go to Crate & Barrel, especially if there is a Red Mango treat in it for me afterwards.)  But seriously, just look how great this thing is!  It’s all chrome, cord storage, beaters, whisks, and dough hooks, all at 5 different speeds and powered by a 240 watt motor.  That’s about as much as a (really small) weed eater.  And if that’s not a manly mixer, then I don’t know what is.

P.S.  I wasn’t allowed to buy it.  Oh well…